July 29, 2014

Welcome! I wanted let you know where the next three Spellbinders Summer Sneak Peek and Giveaway blogs are, as well as to share a few details of the scrapbook page that I had created using the new Spellbinders Chevron Border (SKU S4-455) and Conversation Bubble 3 (SKU S2-137; both sets will be available this Fall at a store near you.)

My main chevron element used a dark gray cardstock for the frame piece, filled in with dark blue and dark green cardstock for the chevron pieces. I wanted some random chevron pieces on the page the add some interest to the page, and I wanted them to align correctly with the main strip of chevron pattern. I used an extra frame scrap for placement purposes, as shown above.

While I used the medium-sized conversation bubble die template for the actual quote (shown farther down), I needed the largest conversation bubble for my journaling block. I didn't really want the little tail-piece on it, so I removed it almost perfectly. ;-)

First I cut and embossed my printed journaling block with the largest conversation bubble. Next I trimmed the tail-piece off.

I inserted the journaling black back into the die, upside down and printed side up, and then re-cut and embossed, as shown above. It worked out pretty well!

July 27, 2014

Welcome to the first day of the Spellbinders Summer Sneak Peek and Giveaway! Die template sets being shown over the next few days are slated for release at the upcoming Craft and Hobby Association Paper Arts show in Atlanta, Georgia. I am excited to get to introduce a couple of great new Spellbinders die template sets today, the Chevron Border (SKU S4-455) and the Conversation Bubble 3 (SKU S2-137).

Not only do I get to show them to you, but (here's the really exciting part) Spellbinders is also giving away the two new die template sets that I have used here today, as well as the new die template sets used on other sneak peek blogs this week and a fabulous grand prize! Be sure to look at the end of the post for more details and instructions on how to enter the giveaway.

**Please Note: There is a clickable link at the bottom of this post for entering; commenting on this post does NOT enter you into the giveaway.**

For my first project, I have a set of three clean and simple cards using both the Chevron Border and the Conversation Bubble 3 die template sets.

On the first card, I decided to emboss (but not cut) the Chevron Border on a heavy white cardstock.

Here you can see the impression that the Chevron Border made.

Next I trimmed the cardstock panel with my A-2 Matting Basics A (7) die template. Instead of embossing the A-2 Matting Basics rectangle with my Grand Calibur, I used an embossing stylus to emboss its edges; I didn't want to flatten my previously embossed chevron pattern, and running it through a second time with the embossing mat would have diminished the chevron pattern that I wanted to keep dominant.

I placed a scrap of the chevron pattern frame cut from cardstock on top of my embossed pattern to help me keep all of the pieces straight and in place, taping the frame scrap down on both ends to keep it from slipping. Then I started gluing down my little chevron pieces. It goes quickly!

Almost finished! I'm on the last row here.

And here I am removing the chevron frame cardstock that held my pieces in place. I used a stiff brush to brush away a few little bits of cardstock that were left on the edges of some of the pieces. They came off easily since I didn't get glue on the very edges.

For the second card, I wanted to try an ombre effect. For this card, I did not emboss the background; I wanted to see how the look would differ without embossing or leaving the frame in place. I started with a pale aqua cardstock, then used my Copic markers to darken each progressive layer a bit more.

All pieces are in place, and again, I'm gently removing the outside border. But I was wondering what that border would look like used alone in an ombre effect. . .

And here's what it looks like! I used a scrap of the pale aqua cardstock that I had left over from the card above this one, then again used my Copics to darken each successive layer. On this card, I used an A-2 Matting Basics A (6) and an A-2 Matting Basics B (7), in addition to the Chevron Border and the Conversation Bubble 3 die templates.

Here is a close up of all three cards, each using the Chevron Border slightly differently, as well as two of the three Conversation Bubble 3 die templates.

I have one more project to share, a 12 x 12 scrapbook page using the Chevron Border in a more typical way--frame piece and inside pieces together. I used both the medium and the large Conversation Bubble 3 die templates here, but I edited the large one to remove that little tail since I wanted it to be my journaling block area instead of a quotation. (I'll show how I did that in the next day or two, along with a supply list and more close-ups of this page.)

Again, my featured Spellbinders die template sets were the Chevron Border (SKU S4-455) and the Conversation Bubble 3 (SKU S2-137). These sets are NOT available quite yet, but they will be coming this Fall to a store near you!

These are the Copic markers that I used on the Rocky Raccoon image. I don't think I've ever colored a raccoon before, so I looked up Google images for raccoon, and then I started experimenting with texture.

Here's my inside sentiment. I used the same partial circle layout that I had used on the card front to tie the inside and outside together.

I used several of my Spellbinders die template sets: Standard Circles Large, A-2 Matting Basics A (outside) and B (inside), and A-2 Valiant Honor (for the bandana edge). I used a Copic Y32 and C2 along with my Copic Airbrush System to color the circle, then I added a more distinct shadow at his feet with my C2 marker. Patterned papers are from a Carta Bella Giddy Up 6" x 6" pad. His shirt, bandana, and pants are all pieced from the patterned paper pad, with shading added by Copic marker.

July 23, 2014

Welcome! I've got a quick post for you this morning, a simple birthday card today using Papertrey Ink's Wet Paint III stamp set, along with my Spellbinders A-2 Matting Basics A die template set. I had another watercolor background in my "unfinished/to be used" basket (Ranger distress inks on an acrylic block, misted with water and stamped on PTI Rustic White cardstock), and I had a great little freestyle cursive stamp for a sentiment. It seemed like a perfect match! For more on the acrylic block watercoloring, see Laura Bassen's post here: Laura Bassen's acrylic block technique. That's all for today--thanks for visiting,

July 22, 2014

Welcome! I have a sweet little MFT Birdie Brown card to share today using the Every Day is a Picnic stamp set--isn't she a cutie?

These are the Copic markers that I used to color the image. Yes, THAT many. I changed my mind a few times, then at the last minute I added the sun image for a balanced layout. When I was ready to take a picture, it occurred to me that I had to change the shading and shadows because of adding the sun. So, I colored for quite a while on this image!

July 18, 2014

Welcome! How about a watercolored sunflower today? I've certainly gotten some mileage out of my Papertrey Ink Botanical Blocks stamp set, so I think I can justify ordering the second set soon. :-)

After stamping my sunflower image with Versamark ink, heat-embossing it with detail white embossing powder, and watercoloring it, I used a Spellbinders A-2 Matting Basics A die template to cut out my image and both of its mat layers; then I distressed all edges with Chamomile Distress ink. For the background, I used a Spellbinders Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities folder, again inking with Chamomile Distress ink before using my scissors edge to scrape and further distress the edges. A length of rustic twine tied around the image finishes it--bright and easy! That's it for today. Thanks for visiting,

July 17, 2014

Welcome! I was asked for some simple anniversary cards the other day, and I had none on hand. I did have some watercolored panels though, and paired with my Papertrey Ink Inside and Out: Love stamp set and some Spellbinders dies, the random watercolored backgrounds turned into simple and easy-to-mail anniversary cards.

For the watercolor backgrounds, I used Ranger Distress inks on Stamper's Select White cardstock. Spellbinders dies that I used were A-2 Matting Basics A, Diamond Effects, and A-2 Valiant Honor. I wasn't sure about putting a ribbon on that pink card, but my fourteen year old insisted that it was essential. . . ;-) Have a great day,

July 16, 2014

Welcome! I have a fun little birthday card to share with you today. I'm using the new Spellbinders Celebra'tions line created by the fabulously talented Richard Garay. This card is made with the Your Day stamp set. While I hand-cut the elephant and gifts image, I used the Pierced Rectangles dies to cut, emboss, and mask so that I could airbrush a sky with my Copic BG02 and Copic Airbrush System.

I used the second line of the sentiment on the inside of the card, along with a strip of patterned paper to tie the inside and outside together. The green twine is Celebra'tions Linen Thread. That's it--simple and fun! Thanks for visiting today,

July 15, 2014

I've been having fun with my Papertrey Ink Text Block: Birthday die--in fact, you may get tired of it before I'm finished playing with it! I needed a bright, cheery birthday card and had some randomly watercolored scraps to use up. After die-cutting the watercolored birthday panel, I cut another plain sheet of cardstock to layer with the top panel for extra thickness. Then I thought I'd run it through my Xyron machine instead of using a glue pen to add glitter--you know, to save time. . .

Let's just say that it may well have been the fact that my permanent adhesive roll is several years old, but I ended up with a LOT of extra adhesive between all of the letters. And I had rubbed it well against the transfer sheet to try to avoid that. (Again, probably just old adhesive.) It took me well over an hour to clean out every little crevice with a tiny little embossing stylus. . . Got to love shortcuts that aren't. At least I liked it after I finished! Cardstock colors are PTI's Hibiscus Burst, Orange Zest, and Stamper's Select White. Impression plates that I used were the Book Print Impression Plate, Linen and Canvas Impression Plate, and Herringbone Impression Plate. For that white trim piece, I used the Filigree Border Die, and for the button, I used the Bitty Button Stacks die. Okay, that's about it for today! Remember, use your glue pen if you're in a hurry. . .

These are the Copic Markers that I used to color the wreath Christmas Wreath image.

I used two Spellbinders dies on my card front, a 5 x 7 Matting Basics B and a Standard Circles Large. My finished card size is 5" x 7". How about some more Christmas projects--think of it as brainstorming ahead of time! Thanks for visiting,

I colored the sunflower and label images, as well as the shadows on the basket-weave background with my Copic markers, but I accidentally put away my markers before I took a picture of the ones that I used--that will teach me to put things away. . . So sorry!

Sunflowers are such a happy flower! While I cut mine out by hand, there is a Sunflower SVG file available to do the fussy-cutting for you if you have an electronic cutting tool.

July 10, 2014

Welcome! Cool evenings, changing leaves, a nip of frost in the air. . . Wait, not yet! We still haven't had our requisite two weeks of summer in the U.P. of Michigan yet! Only the zucchini squash has started producing in my garden, and I'm making Fall cards already. Aren't these stitched pumpkins sweet? They are from JustRite's Fall Appliqué clear stamps set, and the background is the Stitched Vines Cling Background Stamp.

I chose the large and medium pumpkins for my card front. Since I knew that I intended to stamp a second medium pumpkin and pop it up with foam tape, I didn't bother with any masking, though I did stamp both pumpkins on the base layer for placement purposes.

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the pumpkins. For the background, I colored the leaves with a Copic YG03 for a subtle tone-on-tone effect with the Simply Chartreuse cardstock.

I used two dies from the Spellbinders A-2 Matting Basics A set, one to cut and emboss the vine background, and the other to partially cut the rectangular focal image. Where the image extends past the borders on the left and top, I stopped short of cutting all the way through the cardstock--cutting that part by hand, then placed it back in the die template and embossed the edge with an embossing stylus.

My Art Journal Blog

FTC Disclosure Statement

In the spirit of full disclosure, I currently work as a freelance designer in some capacity for the following companies: Imagination International, Inc. (Copic Markers), My Favorite Things Stamps, and Power Poppy Stamps. While I am compensated by these companies, either monetarily or in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of the products that I use. I will not recommend something that I don't personally use and enjoy.